The Lagos State Government has inaugurated a Special Task Force to coordinate the immediate evacuation of refuse from transport parks, bus stops and garages across the state, as authorities intensify efforts to restore cleanliness and environmental order in the commercial hub.
The move follows a directive by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for a 24-hour intensified waste evacuation operation aimed at addressing growing concerns over refuse accumulation and environmental abuse in parts of the metropolis.
Speaking during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting with transport union leaders in Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the intervention became necessary due to the persistent indiscriminate dumping of waste on roads, medians and public spaces by some residents and transport operators.
“Our beautiful city is being challenged by indiscriminate refuse disposal and environmental abuse. We cannot fold our arms while people dump waste on roads, medians and public spaces. This is totally unacceptable,” he said.
Osiyemi stressed that while government would strengthen enforcement measures, the cooperation of transport unions remains critical because of their presence in parks, garages and transport corridors across the state.
“We are not abandoning this responsibility, neither are we doing it alone. What we are asking for is collaboration because this fight is for all of us,” he added.
The commissioner warned that offenders would face sanctions and directed transport union leaders to ensure that parks, garages and bus stops remain clean, free from street trading and illegal structures, while maintaining designated sanitation personnel and monitoring mechanisms.
Also speaking, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Sam Egube, described transport operators as vital partners in maintaining security and environmental sustainability across Lagos.
“Transport workers are part of the security architecture of society. When you see something, say something,” he said.
The Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, revealed that Lagos generates approximately 13,000 tonnes of waste daily and called for stronger cooperation from transport operators to curb indiscriminate disposal.
“We need your support. Lagos is our home and we must keep it clean. Waste should be collected from homes and taken to designated points, not dumped on roads,” he said.
Gbadegesin also warned against the return of street trading around bus stops and newly rehabilitated roads, noting that such activities undermine ongoing urban renewal efforts.
Former Special Adviser on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, explained that the newly inaugurated task force would work closely with transport unions to enforce sanitation regulations, remove illegal structures and improve safety and cleanliness across transport hubs.
In response, leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) pledged their support for the initiative and called for sustained engagement to strengthen coordination across transport corridors.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to tackling waste management challenges, assuring residents that ongoing interventions would soon restore cleanliness, order and a healthier environment across Lagos.
